Texas prison combats bat infestation in old warehouse

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Texas Department of Criminal Justice faces a unique challenge; one in which hundreds of thousands of bats nest in a crumbling cotton warehouse across the street from the Huntsville prison unit.

TDCJ officials have tried unsuccessfully for more than a decade to get the colony to find alternative housing so the building can be demolished.

KPRC 2 Investigator Robert Arnold took you to the former warehouse for the first time in 2018. This week he will return to Huntsville to check in on the prison system's progress and any upcoming plans to make the warehouse bat-free.

Watch today, Thursday, October 31, at 6:30 a.m. on KPRC 2 News. On the way? Download the KPRC 2+ app to watch or listen from anywhere.

If you ever encounter a bat, you should be aware that it may have rabies, according to the Center for Disease Control. Here are the signs:

• A bat that is active during the day.

• A bat found in unusual places (in a house or on the ground).

• A bat that cannot fly or be easily approached.

What to do if you encounter a bat?

• Avoid touching bats. If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, wash the wound with soap and water and get medical help immediately. If bat saliva or brain material gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound, seek urgent medical attention.

• Bat bites can be tiny. So if you think you have come into contact with a bat, speak to a doctor.

• If you find a bat in your home, contact animal control or a doctor to safely capture it for a rabies test. Don't let go of the bat until you talk to a public health expert.

Keep bats away from your home

Bats can fit through tiny openings as small as ¼ inch and often find shelter in houses. You can contact an animal control or wildlife agency for assistance with bat-proofing your home. You can also take bat safety measures yourself.

• Look for openings through which bats could enter.

• Seal any openings larger than a dime.

• Use fly screens, chimney caps and draft excluders to seal attic doors.

• Fill electrical and plumbing holes with steel wool or caulk.

• Make sure that all doors to the outside close tightly.

If you have bats in your house

• Watch where they get out at dusk.

• Count approximately how many there are.

• Hang plastic sheeting or bird netting loosely over the exit opening(s).

• This prevents escaped bats from returning and allows remaining bats to exit.

• Once all the bats have left the room, seal the opening(s).

How to Catch a Bat Safely

1. Find a container, such as a box or jar, that is large enough for the bat to fit inside.

2. Find a piece of cardboard large enough to cover the container opening.

3. Punch small air holes in the cardboard.

4. Put on leather work gloves.

5. When the bat lands, approach it slowly and place the container over it.

6. Slide the cardboard under the container to enclose the bat.

7. Tape the cardboard onto the container to secure the bat inside.